Here is our regular look around the NBA — links to stories worth reading and notes to check out (stuff that did not get its own post here at PBT) — done in bullet point form. Because bloggers love bullet points more than Batman likes high-tech gadgets….

• Former NBA player, coach and GM Kiki Vandeweghe is joining the NBA league office in the role of Vice President, Basketball Operations. What does that vague title mean? According to the official release “VanDeWeghe will be involved in a broad range of basketball matters, including the development of playing rules and interpretations; game analytics; disciplinary matters; and policies and procedures relating to the operation of NBA games. He will also serve as a key interface between the league and the teams, drawing upon his years of experience as a general manager and coach.” So, that should clear everything up.

• When you hear someone say an NBA prospect “wants to test the draft waters” you should know that he can’t — the NCAA has put in place some self-serving rules that forces students thinking about going pro to make a decision before they have all the information they should. Remember that as you watch the tournament and hear the NCAA say they are about helping the student athletes.

Chris Paul is technically back in that same spot so many stars have been in over the past few years which has resulted in a transition of teams. He’s a free agent at the end of this season with his contract expiring. He would have been a free agent this summer but as part of the agreement that sent him to the Clippers in a trade last fall, Paul opted into his last year on contract. The thought was that the Clippers would have to show him they could win before he would commit long-term.

HoopsWorld reports that signs point to what everyone assumed, that Paul’s plan is to re-sign.

Paul aggressively recruited for the Clippers this offseason, contacting free agents and attempting to sell them on the situation. His pitch was convincing, with talk about the promising future in Los Angeles and opportunity to compete for a championship. Paul’s recruiting pitch was instrumental in the team signing Jamal Crawford among other free agents, according to sources close to the situation. Most players who are planning to leave a team have one foot out the door as free agency looms. Paul, on the other hand, was working the phones and planning face-to-face meetings with potential teammates.

Not only did Paul play a huge role in the Clippers’ pursuit of free agents, he spent the offseason working with several of Los Angeles’ prospects. Paul trained with Eric Bledsoe, Travis Leslie and Trey Tompkins in Los Angeles, pushing the three young players every day. Paul took Bledsoe, Leslie and Thompkins under his wing, pushing them to improve all aspects of their game and encouraging them as they continue their development. He also spent a considerable amount of time bonding with his teammates, hanging out with them in Los Angeles and flying several of them (including Leslie and Thompkins) to Las Vegas, where he hosted several parties. He also organized offseason workouts and many Clippers participated.

Now, Paul would likely do much of this even if he wasn’t sold. But from the beginning, he’s essentially said that he’s where he wants to be and he’s going to be there a long-time. He has Blake Griffin who’s only going to get better, and a team of veterans which is what every star wants around him.

But is this really how Paul spends the next four years of his career, into his 30’s? The Clippers, let’s be honest, here, are not winning a title. Even with a projected improvement from Griffin, unless he has shooting touch implanted through cybernetics, he’s not going to be all-world. DeAndre Jordan can improve and will still take years to be the kind of dominant defensive center you need.

The Clippers are going to be good. Paul would have to be the best, not one of, which he already is, but the best player in the NBA for them to win the title. Can he pull that off?

Here is our daily look around the NBA — links to stories worth reading and notes to check out (stuff that did not get its own post here at PBT) — done in bullet point form. Because bloggers love bullet points.

• Stephen Curry talks about his ankle and the reports the Warriors are tanking. (Golden State’s win on Sunday really hurt their chance of keeping their pick.)

• The battle for the 2015 NBA All-Star Game is on. It is expected to be in New York but both the Nets (new arena in Brooklyn) and Knicks (refurbished Madison Square Garden) want to host. Have fun figuring that one out, David Stern.

How to quantify and define “clutch” is going to be one of the big topics at the SLOAN Conference in Boston this weekend. It is the one area where often the numbers and perceptions are most at odds. But we can all agree that the 76ers are not good at it.

Really wish I could be at SLOAN, but I can’t do ASG and it back-to-back weekends and still keep my wife speaking to me.